Navigating the Wilderness

Yup, completely normal.

That is the absolute right thing to do. Obviously she found some things that you said or filled out on your questionnaire that caused her concern. There is a small but significant portion of people who go through WLS and turn to alcohol instead of food for comfort, so maybe she thought you were a high risk. Then again, maybe she deals with a bunch of alcoholics and has just applied a one size fits all answer to you, which is really sh*tty, but happens. What I would do is get the entire report from her, including what the questionnaire indicated. After that be very honest with yourself regarding what it shows. If you truly disagree afterward, go to someone else for an eval, but still be 100% honest. In the end it will only help you out.

Congrats, this means your body is healing! I still get those pains, several times per day at 7 weeks out. Some of us do, some of us do not. I use water to calm my stomach, though I think Clementine's idea of milk is probably even better (though I would go with skim to remove the fat). The liquid diet is the hardest part IMHO, once you move on you should start feeling better. As far as omeprazole, I know several people who take it twice daily, but of course this would be a question for your surgeon or doctor to see if it is right for you. There are also some long term studies of PPI medications that show it causes dementia in long-term users, so I would strongly suggest finding other ways to calm your stomach.

If you were sleeved and you are not taking a ppi, it could be stomach acid that is causing it. Heck, even with a ppi it could be stomach acid.

Yes and no. I had a sore throat a couple weeks back and popped a couple lozenges without thinking about the fact that they were full of sugar. The next two days I felt like complete crap. Headache, constantly hungry, tired etc.

Ok, first off your anger is totally validated and you have every right to feel that way. So what is done is done and now you need to move on to hopefully a competent surgeon, and possibly determine with the aid of a lawyer going after the old surgeon. As for work stress, try very hard to decouple your anger at the surgeon with your anger towards your boss. Deal with them separately and try not to let them 'stack' on top of each other to where you have a complete meltdown. Consider perhaps, if you feel your boss is even a half way decent person, sharing your journey and frustration with them. Who knows, this person may become a big supporter of yours. No one likes to see someone get screwed around like you did.

It may just be me, but if this person could not be mutually supportive of your issues, then she is not a friend. Having said that, there are huge mood swings after surgery, but in my opinion never to the point you would throw away a friend over some trivial BS. Maybe you could take the worry you have for her and spend some of it on you? You deserve support and caring. That starts with you caring for yourself.

Well, I was 400lbs after surgery, so it would have taken a bucket of ice to make me cold. I actually wished they had a fan in my room.

3 weeks, huh? Did you notice a 666 anywhere on your surgeon's body? Well, you will probably not care too much for a couple days after surgery while you recover, but honestly, find something to occupy your mind. Start a fight club, follow strangers and mime air quotes to what they are saying, or simply pee in your surgeon's gas tank (You wanted me on fluids, here ya go buddy). Ok, don't do any of that, but do find something you like outside of food and enjoy the heck out of it. And it's ok to cry too. I'm a guy and I never knew just how much stress that releases.

Call his office and ask. My surgeon was very specific about what could be eaten at different time periods. It also depends on what you consider real food. I'm 7 weeks out and I am still on a partially restricted diet until 6 months.

So did you call your doctor and get a response? One of my incisions was infected at it looked very much like the one on your left. It too was very warm.

Have you gone back to bad food habits?

There are certainly things on your list I would definitely ditch. If nothing else the Gatorade should go. I think you are sabotaging yourself with the carbs and definitely with the dessert foods. Every time you eat those foods you are resetting yourself to bad eating habits, plus you are bound to feel crappy if you yo-yo between high carb days and low carb days. I would think about seeing a nutritionist and getting a meal plan together. On the bright side it looks like you have lost almost half the weight you wanted to already! On a side note I am shocked you can physically eat steak without issue at 8 weeks out.

I woke up while they were putting the tube in for my lap band surgery 5 years ago. I heard the anesthesiologist say "Just hold on, don't fight" then I was out again. The next two surgeries after that I spoke very frankly with the anesthesiologists about what happened, and let them know what would happen to their loved ones if it happened again, which it has not. It had also not happened the 4 surgeries I had prior to the band. I have never woken up with the tube, though a slight sore throat has been common for me.

This should be pinned to the top of the board.

First, and it cannot be stated enough, talk to your doctor/surgeon about your meds, which it seems you have. My surgeon has told me repeatedly that capsules do not cause issues with the sleeve, and thus can be taken without issue. I'm sure there are exceptions to that rule, but that is what he said. The pills I take that are non-capsules need to be crushed and taken, oh so delicious. For those pills that cannot/should not be crushed for medical reasons, finding them in liquid form is the way to go. Any way you look it though, you and your surgeon should be comfortable with a post-surgery plan for medications. While I'm sure there are some out there, I can't imagine a surgeon carrying out this surgery on someone who has to take pills to live that will not fit in your sleeve/pouch. It seems like an open door for negligence suits.

This is good in that you will have some practice ignoring or redirecting cravings before you have surgery. I find that busying my mind is the best way to get around the cravings. Go start some sh*t with a rando person and be like yeah, I'm hungry mofo, what you got to say about that? I got the craving craziness inside me! J/K just injecting some levity in here. Seriously though, good luck with surgery and your journey!!

I don't know that you beat the addiction as much as learn to manage it. I still crave carbs every day. It is an 'addiction', not a 'habit', so you have to think of it like any other other addiction. It is process that takes time and requires support and help. The good news is you have this wonderful site for that support! Having said all of that, I was a classic sugar addict, never even thought about being addicted to carbs (though lets face it carbs convert to sugar for all intents and purposes). I have not had a single craving for sugary foods, but the carbs, oh how I miss thee. We are all different and it could end up being that you lose your desire for carbs entirely after surgery, just like I lost the desire for sugary foods. blizair09 said it best, the sooner you can make the lifestyle changes, the better off you will be for it. I should also note fyi, that unlike blizair09 I did not significantly alter my eating habits before surgery and regret it. He is right though, things will get easier along the way.

Ugh, what a total pile of hosresh*t. I understand why they did it, but still. Here is wishing you luck with a speedy turnaround for the biopsy so you can get the reduction and be the you that you deserve!

Ah yes, went through the same dilemma. In fact I changed my mind the week of surgery, for the exact reasons that you list. That being said, I have heard there are some metabolic benefits to the RNY that the sleeve does not provide, but I am not sure if that is true, and if so, how long those effects last. I can tell you in the 9 weeks since I was sleeved I have not touched a blood pressure pill. My BP has been perfect. Also, my sugars have been in the normal range ever since surgery. So, with the sleeve I was able to get rid of 2 medications. As for sleep apnea, I have not had a sleep study done yet, but I was at 400lbs so it will be a bit until I loose enough weight to help with that issue. Ultimately you have to decide which you are comfortable with. I personally think all things equal the sleeve produces about the same weight loss and with quite a few less risk factors, but then again I chose the sleeve, perhaps someone with RNY has had better results than I have. I'd personally rather lose less weight and not have to worry about the complications that come with RNY. As an aside you will see a lot of evidence suggesting that GERD becomes a real issue after the sleeve. I had GERD, with pills and chewables each day I still had issues. Since the surgery I have not had a single problem with reflux, but then again I am only 7 weeks out.

I think of the difference as a regular vitamin being a 'supplement' whereas a Bariatric vitamin being a 'replacement'. As WLS patients we need to replace vitamins we no longer get. The vitamins I use have like 4x the amounts regular vitamins have. That being said, I am of the personal opinion that once you start eating a more rounded diet you can cut back on the vitamins. Now that is only my opinion, and I am not in any way a professional at this.

That literally breaks my heart that you had this happen. At the same time, your positive attitude fills me with hope!

@_Kate_ Hahahaha, I literally for a split second had to think "When did they start putting crabs in watermelon"?

@Apple1 it seems like you have a good plan then. If this surgery can help with all those issues, and your surgeon agrees, then I would say go for it.

I did find this online though. Of course, I am not a dietitian, so check there first. http://www.sugarlessshop.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=254